Or for regular S1000RR you can just wait until this is available..looks like this is the way of the future and in that respect, 2nd gen of this tech will probably be much better and that brings me to the question, will it take away some of the special quality of HP4 when DDC are widely available? I might be bias but to me HP4 will never be as special as the HP2 especially down the road. I mean, pretty much everything on the HP4 can be converted from a standard S1KRR without huge amount of modification. (Switching out the suspension, re-program the ECU, change out the wheels, carbon fairings, rear set and levers, different color scheme) Don't think it's as simple with that on the HP2 since it's essentially a whole different bike from R1200S. Just my .2 cents

Or for regular S1000RR you can just wait until this is available..looks like this is the way of the future and in that respect, 2nd gen of this tech will probably be much better and that brings me to the question, will it take away some of the special quality of HP4 when DDC are widely available? I might be bias but to me HP4 will never be as special as the HP2 especially down the road. I mean, pretty much everything on the HP4 can be converted from a standard S1KRR without huge amount of modification. (Switching out the suspension, re-program the ECU, change out the wheels, carbon fairings, rear set and levers, different color scheme) Don't think it's as simple with that on the HP2 since it's essentially a whole different bike from R1200S. Just my .2 cents

long story short HP4 is badass... for me I'm gonna ride my 2013 for a couple years (cause I effin love this bike) let all the little bugs get worked out of the new tech and then see what BMW has in store for me in 2015... whatever it is I guarantee it will be badass. One thing's for sure BMW doesn't make sh** worse year over year. But let's not make the mistake of disregarding how awesome the HP4 is it's a significant change in tech and I bet she rides beautifully. If the adjustable engine braking (1-7 is it?) is a fact then that and the DDC are the two really desirable things for me.

active suspension is the new ABS. When I started riding, only BMW had it. Then it popped up here and there on a few other bikes. Now it's everywhere, even on Harleys and across most of the Ducati range.

active suspension will follow the same route, and of course, successive generations will be better. Look at the clunky ABS that was on BMW flying brick K-bikes, compared to the elegantly simple and compact ABS pump on our bikes.

In a nutshell, the article says, HP4 not as good on the track , much better on the road, not very good at slow speed cornering but if you a trackdayer and ride to and from, saves all the hasle of playing with the suspension. If thats worth the money to you, then its a good buy.

I'm torn. I have a HP4 comp at the dealer but I'm not 100% sure now why I need this HP4. I have a dedicated 675R track bike and several road bikes including a BMW 1200GS.

I guess my thought was initially to have a serious twisty road bike that could better handle the roads up here in the new York area, plus have more control of traction control but be able to bring the bike to an occasional track day.

Am I asking too much of the HP4 and should I just stay with the GS and the track bike, especially given the cost of the comp? And yes, I agree that the HP4 won't be collectible like the HP2 sport.

A GS in good hands will always beat a super bike on twisties. Most super bike riders don't like to be reminded of that though nor do I own a GS.
I did test drive one up the local pass: it makes it soooooo easy to be quick without all the knee down nonsense (that I abide by on track with the RR).